Heterogeneity in response to asthma medications

Purpose of review Evidence for the heterogeneity of response to asthma medications including inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists is mounting. beta(2)-Adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms may contribute to asthma responsiveness to short- and long-acting beta(2)-agonists. This review examines recent articles describing variability in response to inhaled corticosterioids, leukotriene receptor antagonists and short-acting beta(2)-agonists specifically in pediatric persistent asthmatics. Recent findings In the late 1990's, differences in the response to a leukotriene receptor antagonist and an inhaled corticosteriod in adults with moderate persistent asthma were first described. Subsequently, similar findings have recently been elucidated in children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. The variability in response to these two classes of control medicines now appears to encompass all ages with persistent asthma. In general, despite the variability in response to these medications, both resulted in improved clinical and physiologic control measures. Summary Childhood asthma is a complex disease with numerous clinical phenotypes that contribute to response variability to asthma medications.